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Scandinavian Airways units deadline for departure from Star Alliance.
SAS will depart the worldwide airline alliance efficient Aug. 31, the Stockholm-based provider mentioned on Monday.
The announcement got here simply six months after the corporate reached an settlement to merge with Air France-KLM, with the latter offering the financing required to rescue the hard-hit SAS.
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As a part of the deal – which remains to be pending regulatory approval – it was clear that SAS would finally switch to the SkyTeam alliance, of which Air France and KLM are each members.
This transformation will start on September 1, though it’s attainable that full reciprocity advantages between SAS EuroBonus members and different SkyTeam frequent flyers will not be obtainable on that date.
Switch of SAS to SkyTeam
In an announcement on Monday, SAS mentioned its EuroBonus members can begin receiving sure loyalty advantages from September 1 with most SkyTeam companions.
These mutual advantages, the airline mentioned, will probably be much like these supplied to its members (and people of different airways) as a part of its present participation in Star Alliance.
SAS mentioned its leaders are in “superior conversations” with SkyTeam and several other of its member airways to develop and improve their relationship, and extra info is predicted within the coming months.
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With 19 member airways worldwide, SkyTeam consists of Delta Air Strains and Aeromexico in North America and several other European carriers, from Air France and KLM to ITA Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
SAS's loyalty program will stay EuroBonus, the corporate mentioned on Monday – dismissing any notion (at the very least, to date) that the provider may be part of the Flying Blue program shared right now by Air France and KLM; Pending approval, the mum or dad firm of these airways will maintain a 19.99% non-controlling stake in SAS.
“We’re thrilled to make progress on our alliance transformation journey and pave the best way for pleasant new locations and loyalty program advantages world wide,” Paul Verhagen, SAS chief industrial officer, mentioned in an announcement. “Our focus now’s to information prospects and our EuroBonus members each step of the best way throughout this transition.”
leaving star alliance
For the SAS, leaving Star Alliance means abandoning the alliance it helped set up greater than 1 / 4 century in the past.
With lower than 5 months left till the airline transition, a spokesperson for the alliance mentioned Monday that its member airways are working to make sure the transition is seamless, “particularly with regard to pre-booked flights.” “
For those who're hoping to make the most of reciprocal Star Alliance advantages for a beforehand booked flight, verify along with your specific airline loyalty program for particular questions associated to mileage accumulation and redemption, alliance officers mentioned.
“We thank SAS and its staff for contributing to the superior buyer expertise for which Star Alliance is globally famend,” the alliance mentioned in an announcement.
floor degree
SAS will finish its Star Alliance participation on 31 August and can transition to SkyTeam from 1 September.
Some particular particulars concerning the mutual advantages on each ends of the transition are a bit obscure, with the airline promising extra info within the coming months.
Nonetheless, it's clear that in case you're a loyal Delta SkyMiles member, SAS may turn out to be the extra helpful European provider for you within the coming months; The other could also be true in case you're loyal to the United MileagePlus program.
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